You don’t have to go low-carb to ditch those extra pounds around your waist in a short period of time. In fact, opting for more whole grains might just get you there faster. Researchers at Tufts University have linked eating three or more daily servings of whole grains to as much as a 10 percent reduction in visceral body fat, the kind that ups your risk for chronic diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Ketchup has very little nutritional value as compared to the fruit from which it is derived. But if you’re looking for an alternative for ketchup, salsa is just the sauce to help you lose weight fast and retain the tangy taste. A study conducted at China Medical University in Taiwan suggests that since salsa is made from fresh tomatoes which contain lycopene, it doesn’t just help reduce fat overall but also specifically around the belly. If you like your salsa spicy, it’s even better because the capsicum in hot peppers like jalapenos and chipotle will help you boost metabolism and in turn reduce weight.

To start off, aim to do ab work 3 or 4 times a week on non-consecutive days with at least 24 hours of rest in between sessions, says Gagliardi. During those sessions, you can start with simpler moves like crunches, bicycle crunches, and planks. Even though you may only be directly targeting your abs 3 or 4 times a week, you should still be activating your core (aka, tightening your ab muscles) in every workout you do, says Gagliardi.

As previously mentioned, swimming is an appreciable exercise to lose belly fats, but how much should you be doing it through a week in order to get the most out of it? Well, you should be swimming no less than 4 times per week, each time about 30-45 minutes, or 25-30 laps. Note: One lap should be 50 meters, if it’s 25 meters then you’ll target 50-60 laps per swim.
Research suggests that acidic foods like vinegar help you considerably reduce belly fat by increasing the human carbohydrate metabolism by 40 per cent. According to a 12-week study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry, obese subjects who included vinegar as a part of their diet shed more belly fat than those in a control group. Apple cider vinegar is extremely beneficial for your health if included in your routine diet, since it contains a compound called acetic acid which has been proven to reduce abdominal fat storage. It is advisable to consume one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar per day if you want to know how to lose belly fat fast.
Stop treating your kitchen like an all-night diner and you’ll stop seeing those unwanted pounds piling onto your frame, too. The results of a study published in Cell Metabolism found that mice who only had access to food during an eight-hour period stayed slim over the course of the study, while those who ate the same number of calories over a 16-hour period gained significantly more weight, particularly around their middle. When you’re finished with dinner at night, shut the fridge and don’t look back until morning — your belly will thank you. When you do head back to the kitchen in the A.M., make sure the 40 Things Healthy Cooks Always Have in Their Kitchen are there waiting for you.
There's nothing wrong with hitting up happy hour. But when you start to drink in excess, you'll wind up packing on weight in your midsection since alcohol is digested as a sugar, and sugar ultimately turns into fat. Think of a bottle of wine as a stack of cookies — both convert into your body the same way, so you should moderate your intake accordingly.
That means Pink Lady over Granny Smith, watermelon over honeydew, red grapes over green ones. The higher levels of nutrients called flavonoids—particularly anthocyanins, compounds that give red fruits their color—calm the action of fat-storage genes. In fact, red-bellied stone fruits like plums boast phenolic compounds that have been shown to modulate the expression of fat genes. To learn more about turning on and off your fat genes, check out the essential list: 21 Nutrition Myths—Busted!
If you feel like you're making smart moves to lose weight but the scale isn't moving the way you want, your diet may contain some sneaky foods that can lead to bloating, water retention (ahem, salt!), and a higher calorie intake. Veggies, fruits, seeds, nuts, fish, whole grains, and other smart choices loaded with fiber and protein will keep you fuller longer, all while working their nutrient-powered magic. When it comes to healthy eating and weight loss, these plant-based foods loved by registered dietitians have your back.

While many people turn to artificial sweeteners in a misguided attempt to whittle their waistlines, those fake sugars are likely to have the opposite effect. According to researchers at Yale, artificial sweeteners are actually linked with an increased risk of abdominal obesity and weight gain, possibly because they can trigger cravings for the real stuff and spike insulin levels in a similar fashion to real sugar.